This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011.
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Hedgehogs are generally clean pets, but they sometimes require a bath. It's fairly easy to bathe your hedgehog with the right equipment and a little patience. Draw a bath with warm water and add some shampoo. Gently wash your hedgehog until it’s clean. You should also clip your hedgehog's nails after a bath, as they'll be soft and easy to trim.
Steps
Setting Up the Bath Area
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1Place a non-slip bath mat on the bottom of the sink or tub. You can bathe your hedgehog in a sink or tub in your home. However, hedgehogs slip easily. Lining the tub or bath with a non-slip mat will keep your hedgehog safe during bath time.[1]
- As an alternative, you can use a silicon baking mat. These are non-slip, inexpensive, small enough to fit in a sink, and easy to disinfect.
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2Fill the tub with three inches (2.5 to 8 centimeters) of water. This amount of water is enough that your hedgehog can comfortably stand in the water without being submerged in it. Do not fill your tub or sink higher than this for your hedgehog's safety.[2]Advertisement
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3Check the water temperature. Hedgehogs should be bathed in warm water for their comfort. The water should be warm to the touch without being scalding. Strive for a temperature that would be comfortable for a human baby.[3]
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4Lay your other supplies near the bath area. Hedgehogs may squirm or become nervous during bath time. It's a good idea to have all your supplies laid out ahead of time. Place the following near your sink or tub:[4]
- Tear-free baby shampoo
- A towel
- A soft toothbrush
- Nail clippers
Bathing Your Hedgehog
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1Apply shampoo. Place a dime-sized portion of shampoo in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to form a thick lather with the shampoo. Gently rub the shampoo over your hedgehog's back, belly, and legs.[5]
- Keep shampoo away from your hedgehog's eyes and face.
- Be careful and conservative when applying shampoo to the pointy quills on your hedgehog's back. Lather more shampoo to the furry underside of the hedgehog.
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2Clean the quills and feet with a toothbrush. Take your soft-bristled toothbrush. Gently scrub down your hedgehog's quills and feet with the brush, going slowly to keep your hedgehog calm. The toothbrush allows better control to get into hard-to-reach areas that you cannot access with your hands.[6]
- Always brush in the direction of the quills and not against them.
- Again, keep the shampoo away from your hedgehog's face and eyes.
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3Rinse off your hedgehog. Pour a cup of clean, warm water over your hedgehog. Repeat as needed until the water runs clean. It's important not to leave any shampoo residue in your hedgehog's fur, as this can cause skin irritation.[7]
Completing the Bath Routine
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1Check your hedgehog's feet and legs in the bath. As you're already handling your hedgehog during bath time, it's a good time to do a routine foot and leg check. Things like loose threads and hairs can sometimes wrap around a hedgehog's foot or leg, which can result in injury. If you notice anything wrapped around your hedgehog's foot, carefully remove it during bath time.[8]
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2Dry your hedgehog. Remove your hedgehog from the water and wrap it in a dry towel. Gently rub the towel over the hedgehog until its quills and fur are dry. Keep one hand on the hedgehog and one hand on the towel as you dry your hedgehog.[9]
- If you have someone helping you, have them warm up the towel with a hair dryer while you're finishing bath time.
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3Trim your hedgehog's nails. A hedgehog's nails are generally softer after a bath, so it's a good time for a trim. Hold your hedgehog's paw in your hand and, one at a time, use a baby nail clipper to clip off the tip of the nail. Only clip off a small portion of the tip to avoid hitting the quick.[10]
- If your hedgehog tends to squirm a lot, have another person help you. One person can hold the hedgehog while the other clips its nails.
- If you do hit the quick, apply a blood stopping powder, like Styptic powder, to the nail to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop on its own, see a vet.
- If you are nervous about hurting your hedgehog, just clip off the pointed end of the nail and go no further.
References
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
- ↑ http://www.hamorhollow.com/2007/07/24/bathing-your-hedgehog/
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
- ↑ http://hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/bathing.htm
About This Article
To bathe your pet hedgehog, start by filling a sink or tub with 3 inches of warm water, and placing a non-slip mat in the bottom to keep your pet safe. Then, lather a dime-sized portion of baby shampoo between your hands, and rub it gently over your hedgehog’s back, belly, and legs. Next, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub its quills and feet, making sure to go slowly and follow the direction of the quills. After that, rinse with clean, warm water until all the shampoo is out of your hedgehog’s fur. For tips from our Veterinary co-author on how to dry your hedgehog, keep reading!
